Leading imam backs Boris Johnson over burka row – saying it heightens security risks and is a ‘toxic’ way to control women

BORIS Johnson was right to speak out about his worries about the burka - and that the "toxic" veils cause a major security risk, a leading imam has said.

The ex-foreign secretary is under mounting pressure to say sorry for comparing women in face-covering veils to bank robbers and letter boxes.

But today Taj Hargey, the imam at Oxford Islamic Congregation, said Mr Johnson should "not apologise for telling the truth" - and he didn't go far enough.

he said the dress had no legitimacy from the Koran, and that it was a "trendy gateway theology for religious extremism and militant Islam".

And he even said that the burka could "precipitate security risks... endorse gender inequality and inhibit community cohesion".

He wrote: "In reality it is a toxic patriarchy controlling women".

"Is it any wonder that many younger women have internalised this poisonous chauvinism by asserting that it is their human right to hide their faces? Johnson did not go far enough."

He called for Britain to copy France, Belgium, Austria, Bulgaria and Denmark in banning it in public places.

The Sun revealed today that Tory chiefs have been accused of "blinking" in a bitter stand off with Boris - and not daring to discipline him.

CCHQ has received dozens of complaints about him, and it was confirmed today that a formal investigation into him will soon begin.

One ally of the mop haired senior Tory dubbed PM Theresa May and chairman Brandon Lewis as being “in a pickle”.

The close ally added: “They’ve picked a fight with Boris but they don’t want to finish it, in case he is found innocent and wins”.

Scotland Yard chief Cressida Dick also confirmed today that police have not received any criminal complaint against the former foreign secretary.

Met Police Commissioner Ms Dick told the BBC Asian Network: "Some people have clearly found it offensive.

"I spoke last night to my very experienced officers who deal with hate crime and, although we have not yet received any allegation of such a crime, I can tell you that my preliminary view having spoken to them is that what Mr Johnson said would not reach the bar for a criminal offence. He did not commit a criminal offence."

Yesterday Mr Johnson refused to back down - despite more top Tories piling in to tell him to apologise.

Tory peer and founder of the Conservative Muslim Forum Lord Sheikh insisted Mrs May suspend him as an MP by stripping him of the Conservative whip, dubbing the remarks “to a certain extent racist”.

And Ruth Davidson, the Scots Tory boss, said his remarks were "gratuitously offensive".

She said the burka was like the Christians' crucifix and should be defended.

Former Tory chairman Baroness Warsi accused him of making “hate crime more likely” with an indefensible “dog-whistle”.

But Boris himself is now abroad on holiday and was said to be "untroubled" by the furore.

Boris was also given a dressing down by the office who advise on business appointments too today - for not talking to them before taking up his column at the Daily Telegraph after leaving office.

The Office of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments said they were only told two weeks after news of his newspaper column would become public - and that "retrospective applications will not normally be accepted".

They say he should have waited at least three months - and broke the rules by not asking them before immediately signing a new contract.

• GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk